[bossdog]

I'm curious to hear how your individual Immigration Process went. How long did it take, was it expensive, did you do it yourself, etc.

[danikyvor]

Gosh, it's such a pain in the ass here in Britain, it really is.

I started out on the two year working holiday visa. Had no intention on staying past the two years, but then I met my husband .

We had to apply for permission from the UK govt to GET married. That cost £300, just for permission. Then after we got married, and I went to the visa office to stay on the basis of a spouse, that application was £500, and I have to renew it next year (at the end of two years), which is another £500. Then in 2009 I can apply for British Citizenship and I think that's £500 as well but I think they're raising it.

So by the time it's all said and done, I'll have spent close to or about £2,000 (roughly 5,000 cdn).

Wow.

[bossdog]

That does sound like a pain in the ass. I'm still waiting on my Green Card here in the US. When it's all said and done the cost will amount close to $700 US. It's the waiting that is a killer. We're doing it ourselves instead of paying a lawyer.

[danikyvor]

A lot of people here use a lawyer to sort out their immigration stuff, but lawyers are sOOO bloody expensive. I know one at the court who charges £600 an hour. AN HOUR. Can you imagine?? Geez. No wonder so many people take out legal aid these days.

[bossdog]

I've never used a lawyer for minor legal stuff. You can do most things yourself if you just read up on it. I've even gone to University's law departments and asked for advice from law professors.

[danikyvor]

I think people think that if they use lawyers, they feel more important you know? lol


The only time I would use a lawyer is for property stuff and will stuff. These days you can do your own will (boy that really complicates things for me now too, cause if I die in Britain, all my british estate still has to be reported to the govt in Canada etc etc...and my Canadian will isn't valid in Britain, I have to have two, one for each country.)

[natooke]

It's been a while since I thought about the process & the cost. The most costly part of the process was the travel cost to the Swedish Embassy in TO ... I flew the redeye from Edmonton for my interveiw!

After applying via Swedish consulate in Edmonton & my interveiw in TO ... it was a matter of a few months, until I received my resident visa.

Once I was a landed resident, we had (4 tier) levels of interveiws with migration ... after a year with a resident visa, I received a permanent visa which ment I only needed to update it once a year. *

Keeping your CDN. passport updated, which is every 5 years ... is costly & time consuming Since I don't live anywhere close to the Canadian Embassy(Stockholm) ... not only are you charged for the process in getting a current passport ... I have to send all of the paper work registered.

The general censis (pet peeve) with the expats that I've corresponded with, is when they need to update their CDN: passport the paperwork requires a doctor, lawyer etc signature stating you've known this person for 5 years ... which makes it difficult for an expat who isn't yet established abroad. Therefore the Embassy offers a notary republic which intells a fee.

* edited post. the current immigration process to Sweden has changed since I applied 15 years ago

[danikyvor]

Oh wow, I haven't even thought about the passport renewal thing. Mine is up for renewal next year and I know I have to go down to London to sort it out, but I had completely forgotten about the references and what not.

[danikyvor]

Had a look at the passport requirements, and they've changed it now. A guarantor has to have known you for at least two years (not five) and if you reside outside Canada, the Guarantor can be any one of the following:

Have known you personally for at least two years.
Be included in one of the following groups:
Dentist
Judge
Lawyer
Magistrate
Medical doctor
Notary public
Police officer
Signing officer of a bank
Mayor

I work in a Court and have been there for two years so...I know plenty of lawyers and judges. LOL

[gstang23]

Yeah Immigration can be a pain. But as has been said before. "Anything worth doing, usually isnt easy." I know the process of immigrating to Canada is a bit expensive (about $1500 for the paperwork) but its all going to be worth it.

[natooke]

dimoreien wrote:

Had a look at the passport requirements, and they've changed it now. A guarantor has to have known you for at least two years (not five) and if you reside outside Canada, the Guarantor can be any one of the following:

Have known you personally for at least two years.
Be included in one of the following groups:
Dentist
Judge
Lawyer
Magistrate
Medical doctor
Notary public
Police officer
Signing officer of a bank
Mayor

I work in a Court and have been there for two years so...I know plenty of lawyers and judges. LOL

Yes that may be the case, but!! adding, that I don't claim to know it all However to renew your CDN. passport abroad may intell a guarantor to of known you much longer. It sounds you're on top of this dimoreien just double check with the embassy ... just in case.

The passport photos are a real pain in the arse for me. In this country a photo for a drivers, passport etc is too easy to obtain ... all la fotobooth style, but the dimensions for CDN renewal cost a whole alot of krona, since I have to go into a studio.

[natooke]

gstang23 wrote:

Yeah Immigration can be a pain. But as has been said before. "Anything worth doing, usually isnt easy." I know the process of immigrating to Canada is a bit expensive (about $1500 for the paperwork) but its all going to be worth it.

I wish you Luck in the process.

[danikyvor]

Passport photos here are done in the booths too! It's really strange!

On the site it says that photos can be taken and signed for up to a year, so what I might do is get my pictures done when I go home this summer for a visit, since my passport has to be renewed in June '07 (we'll be in Canada til the middle of September)

I think 87 bucks for a passport is steep. That biometric stuff sounds pretty fancy! Does anyone have the new passport? I left before it came into effect, so I still have the old style.

[danikyvor]

Good luck gstang23 What part of Canada do you want to end up in?

[bossdog]

gstang23 wrote:

Yeah Immigration can be a pain. But as has been said before. "Anything worth doing, usually isnt easy." I know the process of immigrating to Canada is a bit expensive (about $1500 for the paperwork) but its all going to be worth it.

That was our plan originally. To have my wife come to Canada. We spent a boat load of money on fees. Waited an unacceptable amount of time (18 months) with still progress. Paid for all her medicals and tests. Still nothing. I applied for a refund and moved to the US instead. I got my refund in 3 weeks.